What kind of government are we building?

Ronald Reagan once joked that the nine most terrifying words in the English language were, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

Conservatives laughed because we understood the principle behind the joke. Government has an important role, but it also has limits. Strong families, local communities and accountable local government have long been viewed as the foundation of a healthy America. Government should do what only government can do, and it should remain accountable to the people it serves.

That old idea came to mind several times this week.